New National Scenic Byways And All-American Roads Make For The Perfect Road Trip
The National Scenic Byways Program has announced 34 new byways as well as 15 All American Roads in the USA.
There has never been a better time for taking a scenic road trip around the USA! The National Scenic Byways program sees the addition of 34 New National Scenic Byways and 15 All-American Roads to add to the experience, the first since 2009.
New National Scenic Byways take you around the USA
With the new additions, there are now a total of 184 byways in 48 American states. The latest National Scenic Byways traverse 28 states. The program recognizes roadways which have notable scenic, cultural, natural historic, archaeological and recreational qualities.
The latest additions to the program include Great River Road National Scenic Byway in Illinois, Scenic Highway 30A in Florida, the California Historic Route 66, Needles to Barstow Scenic Byway, the Zion Scenic Byway in Utah and the Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway.
More about the program
It was Scenic America, a national environmental nonprofit, that led the drive to restore and revitalize funding for the program. The non-profit preserves and enhances the visual character and scenic beauty of America.
Congress added $16 million in funding for the byways program, which is important in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s face it, people are seeking safe ways to return to travel and road trips, parks and natural place visits are sure to have a widespread appeal for those already stuck at home too long.
Scenic America president, Mark Falzone said in a statement, “The National Scenic Byways Program brings new jobs, tourism and other benefits to communities along these scenic roads, which are often located in parts of the country where such resources are desperately needed and harder to come by.”
Falzone added, “We are excited to partner with the new designees as they tap into the program’s benefits, and we look forward to helping other byways across the country in applying for future byways designations.”
More information about the program and the full list of the new National Scenic Byways can be seen on the official website. However, here, in brief is an introduction into a couple of the notable new additions.
Historic Route 66
Taking a road trip on Route 66 is like driving back in time. The route passes through many towns that appear to be frozen in time, as far back as the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. This is one of the most famous roads in America, which originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California – a total of 2,448 miles.
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Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway
This byway follows the southern shoreline of Lake Superior along the Bayfield peninsula. Along the way, it highlights the historical, cultural, geological, ecological and recreational diversity of the area. Running for 70 miles, the route features pristine sandy beaches, beautiful scenic views of forests and the clear waters of Lake Superior.
The byway passes historic fishing villages, quaint harbor towns and small farms and orchards. This means there are plenty of places to stop over for a delicious meal, enjoy some retail therapy or take a stroll on the beach.
Take a road trip this year – get out into the fresh air and nature and truly experience life.